Dental instrument for use with teeth-spreading wedges during filling operations

ABSTRACT

A DENTAL INSTRUMENT FOR USE WITH TEETH-SEPARATING WEDGES DURING FILLING OPERATIONS OF A PATIENT&#39;&#39;S TEETH, WHERE IN EACH OF THE WEDGES HAS A BASE RETANGULAR IN CROSS-SECTION WITH AN INTERDENTAL WEDGE PORTION PROJECTING FROM THE BASE, AND EACH WEDGE FURTHER HAVING A FLAT SURFACE ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE ALVEOLAR CREST OF THE GINGIVAL TISSUES OF THE PATIENT. THE INSTRUMENT DEFINE A FIXED JAW AND A SWINGABLE JAW THAT ARE MADE TO GRIP THE WEDGE BASE, WHEN THE WEDGE IS BEING MOVED INTO A POSITION BETWEEN ADJOINING TEETH, OR THE WEDGE IS BEING REMOVED, THE FIXED JAW HAVING A HORIZONTAL REST AGAINST WHICH THE FLAT GINGIVAL-FACING SURFACE OF THE WEDGE BASE IS ADAPTED TO BE PLACED, AND THE INSTRUMENT IS MOVABLE SO THAT THE HORIZONTAL REST WILL PARALLEL THE OCCLUSAL PLANE OF THE PATIENT&#39;&#39;S TEETH.

1971 B. F. TOFFLEMIRE 3,623,227

DENTAL lNSTRUMENT FOR USE WITH TEETH-5THHADlNU WEDGES DURING FlLLING OPERATIONS Filed Dec. 18, 1970 INVENTOR.

B E NJAMIN F- TOFFLEMIRE AT TO PM E Y United States Patent DENTAL INSTRUMENT FOR USE WITH TEETH- SPREADING WEDGES DURING FILLING OP- ERATIONS Benjamin F. Tofllemire, 41301 Crest Drive, Hemet, Calif. 92343 Filed Dec. 18, 1970, Ser. No. 99,608 Int. Cl. A61c 3/00 US. Cl. 32-64 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dental instrument for use with teeth-separating Wedges during filling operations of a patients teeth, wherein each of the wedges has a base rectangular in cross-section with an interdental wedge portion projecting from the base, and each wedge further having a flat surface adapted to be positioned adjacent to the alveolar crest of the gingival tissues of the patient. The instrument defines a fixed jaw and a swingable jaw that are made to grip the wedge base, when the wedge is being moved into a position between adjoining teeth, or the wedge is being removed, the fixed jaw having a horizontal rest against which the fiat gingival-facing surface of the wedge base is adapted to be placed, and the instrument is movable so that the horizontal rest will parallel the occlusal plane of the patients teeth.

SUMMARY An object of the invention is to provide a dental instrument for use with teeth-separating wedges during filling operations of a patients teeth, wherein a pair of jaws are made to firmly grip a base of a wedge that is rectangular in cross-section so that an interdental wedge portion projecting from the base may be inserted between adjoining teeth so as to separate the latter after insertion of a dental matrix band around a prepared tooth.

More specifically stated, it is proposed to provide a dental instrument having a fixed jaw formed with a horizontal rest upon which a fiat gingival-facing surface of the wedge base is adapted to be placed, and a swingable jaw is provided for movement toward the fixed jaw so as to grip the wedge base therebetween. Moreover, a clamping plate is provided on the swingable jaw disposed to bear against the adjacent vertical side of the wedge base with a cam action, and this clamping plate has a series of vertical fiutes arranged to indent into the wedge base to prevent endwise slippage of the wedge relative to the instrument.

Moreover, the instrument is movable so that the horizontal rest will parallel the occlusal plane of the patients teeth, and then the flat surface of the base that faces the gingival tissues of the patient may be correctly positioned as the interdental wedge portion of the wedge is inserted between adjoining teeth.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accomanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of my dental instrument, with a swingable handle thereof moved into open position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but disclosing the swingable handle moved into closed position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 2 showing a teethseparating wedge inserted between two adjoining teeth of a patient;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the movable jaw on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the movable jaw, that is, as seen from the right of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a tooth separating wedge.

While I have shown only the preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within theh scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that a dental instrument designated generally at A has been provided for use with a tooth-separating wedge B. The latter has a base 10 rectangular in cross-section with an interdental wedge portion 11 projecting from the base. Each wedge further has a fiat gingival-facing surface 12 adapted to be positioned adjacent to the alveolar crest of the gingival tissues of the patient.

The details of the tooth-separating wedge B are more fully disclosed in my copending patent application, Ser. No. 99,609, filed in the US. Patent Ofiice on Dec. 18, 1970.

The dental instrument A has a supporting handle 13 provided with lug 14 to which swingable handle 15 is pivotally secured by journal pin 16, with the latter handle being movable between opened and closed positions relative to the supporting handle 13 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.

In its structural features, the supporting handle has a stem 17 mounted thereon to extend forwardly therefrom, the stem being provided with a fixed jaw 18 adapted to extend gingivally when the instrument is placed alongside of the patients teeth C (see FIG. 3), either on the buccal (toward cheek) or lingual (toward tongue) of the teeth, and on either upper or lower teeth.

As an important detail, the fixed jaw 18 has a horizontal rest 19 upon which the fiat gingival-facing surface 12 of the wedge base 10 is adapted to be placed (see FIG. 2). The fixed jaw 18 further has a vertical shoulder 20 extending occlusally from the horizontal rest 19 and against which the adjacent vertical side 21 of the base may be placed, the instrument being movable so that the horizontal rest 19 will parallel the occlusal plane D of the patients teeth C (see FIG. 2).

In its further structural features, the dental instrument A'has a swingable jaw 22 disposed forwardly of the fixed jaw 18 and being pivotally attached by journal pin 23 to the fixed jaw. The swingable jaw 22 is movable toward the fixed jaw 18 to grip the wedge base 10 therebetween and being movable in the opposite direction to release the wedge base.

It will be observed that the swingable jaw 22 is provided with a clamping plate 24 disposed to bear against the adjacent vertical side 25 of the wedge base 10 when this jaw is swung toward the fixed jaw 18, the clamping plate being curved vertically so as to act as a cam in closing against the wedge base side 25.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the clamping plate 24 has a series of fiutings 26 arranged to indent into the Wedge base, when the wedge B is. clamped between the jaws 18 and 22, whereby endwise slippage of the wedge relative to the instrument A is precluded.

It will be noted that the stem 17 is tubular, defining a bore 27 extending therethrough in a lengthwise direction. A rod 28 is slidably guided in the bore 27, and the front end of this rod is pivotally attached to the swingable jaw 22 by a yoke 29. The rear end of this rod is con nected by a second yoke 30 to one end of a curved link 31 by journal pin 32. The opposite end of this link is connected by journal pin 33 to the swingable handle 15 at a. point spaced from the journal pin 16. Thus the swingable handle 15 is used to actuate the swingable jaw 22.

When the swingable handle 15 is closed against the supporting handle 13, as shown in FIG. 2, a self-locking toggle arrangement is provided by the handle 15, link 31 and rod 28. Also, the curved link 31 'is shaped to fit over the lug 14 when the handle 15 is moved against the handle 13 (see FIG. 2).

The stem 17 provides a protective covering over the major length of the rod 28 to prevent the latter from contacting with tissues of the patient.

The handles 13 and 15 are curved toward the gingival so that the dentist will have a clearer view of the operative field in the area of the wedge B being inserted between adjoining teeth C, or removed therefrom.

The handles 13 and 15 are capable of exerting tremendous mechanical advantage, and the curved clamping plate 24 securely grips the wedge B, holding the latter in place on the instrument A, whereby the wedge may be easily inserted between adjoining teeth C of the patient, thus separating the teeth after placing a dental matrix band around a tooth to be filled.

The curved design of the instrument A permits the dentist to observe the wedge B so that the fiat gingival-facing surface 12 of the wedge can be oriented so that it will rest on the summit of the alveolar crest of the gingival tissues and not gouge into these tender tissues.

The outer end 34 of the wedge base may be placed flush with the edge of the jaws 18 and 22 farthest away from the teeth C, as shown in FIG. 3.

By curving the handles 13 and in the manner shown in the drawing, the dentist will be provided with an unobstructed vertical as well as horizontal view of the securely-held wedge B. The flat occlusal surface 35 of the wedge base is parallel to the gingival-facing surface 12, which in turn is held securely in place on the horizontal rest 19, and is readily tilted by the dentist either mesodistally, bucco-lingually, or vertically, as indicated by the fiat occlusal view of the base of the wedge.

The occlusal plane D of the patients teeth acts as a meso-distal guide in determining the necessary tilt of the dental instrument A, and the over and under vertical position of the operating handles 13 and 15 govern the bucco-lingual tilt of the wedge in relation to the alveolar crest of the gingival tissue. The vertical position of the operating handles, in turn, serve as the setting of the handles for exerting the necessary force, either to the right or left.

With the dental instrument A, it is possible to employ bilateral Wedging by first seating a primary wedge B on either the buccal or lingual aspect, and then a secondary wedge B is inserted from the opposite aspect into the interproximal embrasure of the teeth, using the same instrument. The tapered ends 11 of the two wedges will readily pass one another. It may be advantageous for the dentist to place a finger, or supporting instrument, against the base of the primary wedge to prevent its dislodgement while inserting the secondary wedge. When using primary and secondary wedges, they will exert an antomicallycontoured bilateral support of the adjoining prepared cavities that are fitted with contoured matrix bands.

I claim:

1. In a dental instrument for use with teeth-separating wedges during filling operations of a patients teeth, wherein each wedge has a base rectangular in cross-section with an interdental wedge portion projecting from the base, each wedge further having a flat surface adapted to be positioned adjacent to the alveolar crest of the gingival tissues of the patient, the instrument defining:

(a) a supporting handle having a swingable handle 4 secured thereto, with the latter handle being movable between opened and closed position relative to the supporting handle;

(b) the supporting handle having a stem mounted thereon to extend forwardly therefrom, the stem being provided with a fixed jaw adapted to extend gingivally when the instrument is placed alongside of the patients teeth, either on the buccal or lingual of the teeth, and on either upper or lower teeth;

(c) the fixed jaw having a horizontal rest upon which the flat gingival-facing surface of the wedge base is adapted to be placed, the fixed jaw further having a vertical shoulder extending occlusally from the horizontal rest and against which the adjacent vertical side of the wedge base may be placed, the instrument being movable so that the horizontal rest will parallel the occlusal plane of the patients teeth;

(d) a swingable jaw disposed forwardly of the fixed jaw and being pivotally attached to the latter, the swingable jaw being movable toward the fixed jaw to grip the wedge base therebetween and being movable in the opposite direction to release the wedge base;

(e) and means interconnecting the swingable handle with the swingable jaw to actuate the latter.

2. The dental instrument for use with teeth-separating wedges, as set forth in claim 1;

(f) and in which the swingable jaw is provided with a clamping plate disposed to bear against the adjacent vertical side of the wedge base when this jaw is swung toward the fixed jaw, the clamping plate being curved vertically so as to act as a cam in closing against the wedge base side.

3. The dental instrument for use with teeth-separating wedges, as set forth in claim 2;

(g) and in which the clamping plate has a series of vertical flutings arranged to indent into the wedge base, when the wedge is clamped between the jaws, whereby endwise slippage of the wedge relative to the instrument is precluded.

4. The dental instrument for use with teeth-separating wedges, as set forth in claim 1;

(f) and in which the stem is tubular, defining a bore extending therethrough in a lengthwise direction;

( g) and the means interconnecting the swingable handle with the swingable jaw to actuate the latter includes a rod slidably guided in the bore of the stem, the front end of this rod being pivotally attached to the swingable jaw, and the rear end of this rod being connected by a link to the swingable handle, the stem providing a protective covering over the major length of the rod to prevent the latter from contacting with tissues of the patient.

5. The dental instrument for use with teeth-separating wedges, as set forth in claim 1;

(f) and in which the means interconnecting the swingable handle with the swingable jaw to actuate the latter includes a toggle arrangement that is selflocking when the swingable handle is closed against the supporting handle.

6. The dental instrument for use with teeth-separating wedges, as set forth in claim 1;

(f) and in which the handles are curved toward the gingival so as to afford the dentist a clear view of the operative field in the region of the wedge being inserted or removed from the patients teeth.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 440,509 11/1890 Sawhill 32-64 1,057,974 4/1913 Miller 3264 ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner 

